iBench: using technology to improve QMJHL Player’s development

By Maxime Blouin January 12, 2018

Boucherville, QC—January 12, 2018—The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) is proud to be the first league in the Canadian Hockey League to offer the iBench technology to its teams.

iBench is a system powered by XOS Digital which gives coaches the option to view replays on an iPad and use the video as a development tool during live game action.

By using the iBench system, coaches have real-time playback capabilities behind the bench and have the opportunity to instruct on how to make real time in-game adjustments. Coaches and players can review on-ice events immediately after they occur, allowing players to instantly adjust on the very next play.

« Having access to an iPad on the bench will be beneficial to our players, especially for our special teams. The system will also help assistant coaches to communicate with players and show them events on the ice seconds after plays occur”, said Victoriaville Tigres head coach, Louis Robitaille. “Players don’t always remember what happened. I think this will be a fascinating teaching tool. »

This technology clearly improves coaching practices and proposes a modern approach. It allows instructors to give immediate feedback to players. It also provides the opportunity to immediately illustrate and adjust to what opposing teams are doing.

Implementing the technology

The QMJHL ran several tests last September. After correcting a few technical issues, the league was able to spread the technology to its 18 markets. The QMJHL’s Director of Hockey Operations, Pierre Leduc, and XOS Technology Specialist, Serge Blondin, have been going market to market these past few weeks to integrate the system. Full implementation should be achieved by the end of the month. Therefore, training and installation of the iPad project will be completed and fully functional by early February.

« We are now able to add the iPad to the growing list of technological tools that we use throughout the league. The technology will give our coaches the ability to make in-game adjustments while helping improve the development of our players », commented Pierre Leduc.